The Mets (63-77) are about to host the San Francisco Giants (58-83) for a three-game series at Citi Field, and honestly, this feels less like a marquee matchup and more like a dive into the deep end of two seriously struggling seasons. The Mets just wrapped up a 2-1 road trip in Tampa Bay, which, for them, is a huge win, considering they got walked off *twice* in Chicago and then got kinda manhandled by both the Brewers and the Astros. They’re figuring it out after selling off their bullpen and two outfielders, including Luis Robert Jr. getting claimed by the Orioles just days ago.
Mets Are Still Kicking, Thanks to Some Young Guns
But hey, even with all the sell-off craziness, the Mets aren’t totally dead in the water. Remember Nick Morabito? Dude just put on a clinic on Wednesday night, grabbing his first two big league hits, driving in three runs with a double, and making a flat-out fantastic catch in left field. How clutch is that? And that rebuilt bullpen, with guys like Daniel Duarte, Nate Lavender, Austin Warren, and Dedniel Nuñez? They’ve had their bumps, but they’ve been stepping up big time. Makes you wonder who’s gonna stick around for next season, right? That’s some real grit.
Giants’ Season Is a Train Wreck, But The Mets Have Hope
Now, if you think the Mets have it rough, just look at the Giants. Their season is basically a catastrophe, a full-blown disaster. The only reason they’re not dead last in the NL West is because the Rockies are, and I quote, “truly astoundingly bad.” Seriously. The Giants lost Luis Arraez, their best player by bWAR, and their second-best, Rafael Devers, is reportedly miserable. All of a sudden, the Mets, with all their issues, look like a respectable, functioning ball club compared to *that*. It’s wild.
But the real story for the Mets, the one that gives you a sliver of hope, is their three young starters. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton? These guys aren’t just filling spots; they look like legit rotation mainstays for the long haul. Yeah, Sean Manaea has wilted, and Robert Stock is pitching like he’s already collected his pension, but Jonah Tong’s last few starts have looked way, way better than most of his 2026 outings, so expect him to join the rotation ASAP. And McLean? He’s in the Rookie of the Year conversation! After a shaky start on August 6th, he’s been absolutely phenomenal over four starts, tossing 25 innings and allowing just thr… His season stats are legit: 155.2 IP, 172 K, 61 BB, 15 HR, a 3.06 ERA, and a 3.60 FIP. That’s a dude who knows how to deal.
The series kicks off Friday, 7:10 PM EDT, with Nolan McLean on the bump against Matt Wilkinson. For the Mets, this whole series is about seeing which of these young studs are truly for real and worth building around. For the Giants? Man, they just need to find *any* reason to feel good about themselves. Let’s see if McLean keeps that ROY chatter going and if Morabito can deliver another highlight reel moment. You gotta love watching those young guys fight for it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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